Quarterly exports fall by 0.7pc

Scotland's manufactured exports have plunged to their lowest level since 1995.

Quarterly figures fell by 0.7 per cent on the previous three months and were down 8.6 per cent year on year.

Only food and tobacco saw any increase with the biggest drop in wood, paper, publishing and printing which shrank by 12 per cent. Next hardest hit were textiles, fur and leather which fell 7.3 per cent.

The overall index of manufactured exports, which was over 140 in 2000, has fallen for the fifth successive quarter and is now below 100. CBI Scotland assistant director David Lonsdale said: "If our exporters are to capitalise on any pick up in overseas demand, then it is vital that they are provided with a supportive policy framework.

"It would be very worrying if reduced levels of support for manufacturers and for exporters resulted from the looming cuts to the budgets of Scotland's enterprise agencies."